MICHAEL McKINSON considered retiring from boxing after being “blackballed” – but it took the help of a British legend to rescue him.
McKinson was once hailed as a leading name in the welterweight scene until he was stunned in defeat to Thulani Mbenge in October 2024.
Michael McKinson considered retiring from boxing after being ‘blackballed’Credit: Getty
The Pompey southpaw boxed two months later in a routine comeback fight, beating Ryan Frost on points, but he has been sidelined since.
And the frustrated 31-year-old admits he almost threw the towel in on his career as the setbacks began to mount.
McKinson told SunSport: “When the phone isn’t ringing you need money coming in don’t you?
“So over the last year there have been times and even more so, my younger brother Lucas Ballingall packed it in and retired last month.
“He’d been a pro for 10 years, been full-time for the last 10 years as well and kind of realisation kind of hit that he’s had bad luck and he chose to walk away from boxing.
“So people around me have actually retired recently so that was always kind of in my head like, ‘Well, when am I gonna get something?’ Because I need to keep moving.”
McKinson revealed he was unwell heading into his IBO title fight against Mbenge – and could not retire on the back of that loss.
He said: “People that don’t know the story could watch it and think, ‘McKinson’s done, he’s finished.’ Because it wasn’t the best performance.
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will make his return in April against Arslanbek Makhmudov while Oleksandr Usyk takes on the king of kickboxing Rico Verhoeven.
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“For me it’s that motivation now of, OK let’s prove people wrong, I’ve still got loads more, loads more big nights ahead of me, loads more achievements ahead of me as well.
“So a big part of it is I wanna show the whole boxing world, I wanna show them all and prove to them all again.”
McKinson was surviving with the help of sponsors as he continued to stay in gym – waiting for his big break.
And that finally came after landing a slot on the May 1 card in Nigeria – promoted by British great .
And he credits Khan for helping resurrect his career – with McKinson to face 8-0 Algerian Mohammed Sahnoun.
McKinson said: “When I felt like I’ve been frozen out for the past year in the boxing world, a little bit kind of blackballed in terms of never getting mentioned, never getting opportunities from everyone, that’s one person, one team, that have stayed consistent with contact with me.
“They’ve obviously offered me this opportunity to fight again. They didn’t need to offer me this opportunity to fight, did they?
“Even since it’s been announced, the whole kind of the boxing world on X and social media and stuff, I’ve received nothing but love and support.
“And everyone’s loving the fact that I’ve managed to get another fight kind of thing.
“So at the moment I’m very grateful, kind of tunnel vision now because now it’s time to prove to people I’m still here.
“I’m still a massive threat in the welterweight division, so that’s my only goal right now.”
Amir Khan is promoting McKinson’s next fight 
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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